South Korea reported record high in daily Covid-19 cases with the Omicron variant of the virus driving the surge. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency reported 38,691 new cases of the virus on Monday, a nine-fold increase from the levels seen in mid-January, when Omicron became the country’s dominant strain.
Jeong Eun-kyeong, the country’s top infectious disease expert, warned that South Korea may see daily jumps of 130,000 or 170,000 by late February.
The recent spike in Covid-19 cases has stretched the country’s health and administrative resources.
AUSTRALIA TO REOPEN BORDERS FOR VACCINATED TOURISTS
Australia is set to reopen its borders to all vaccinated travelers from February 21. Australia imposed some of the world’s toughest travel restrictions in March 2020 to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
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On Monday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said his senior ministers agreed that the border would reopen to all vaccinated visa holders from February 21.
Morrison said visitors must have proof of vaccination. The Australian prime minister referred to last month’s incident when Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic was deported by the Australian government because he was not vaccinated.
GERMAN STATES PREPARING TO OPEN UP DESPITE SURGE IN COVID CASES
Several German states are planning to loosen coronavirus restrictions despite rising infections. Germany on Monday reported 95,267 new daily cases, a 22 per cent rise compared with the same day last week. However, the seven-day hospitalization rate per 100,000 dropped to 5.4, the lowest in more than two months.
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Officials of the southern state of Bavaria said that the state was lifting a night-time curfew on restaurants and will further ease restrictions on sports and cultural events.
Similarly, Brandenburg is due to decide on Tuesday about easing restrictions in retail, and could allow the unvaccinated to enter some shops with a mask. Other regions, such as Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein announced easing curbs last week.
US URGES CITIZENS TO AVOID TRAVEL TO JAPAN, CUBA
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advised against travel to six countries– Japan, Cuba, Libya, Armenia, Oman, and the Democratic Republic of Congo– over Covid-19 cases.
The CDC now lists more than 130 countries and territories with Covid-19 cases as “Level Four: Very High.” It lists just over 50 countries as “Level Three: High,” discouraging non-essential travel by unvaccinated Americans.
CHINA LOCKS DOWN CITY ON VIETNAM BORDER
China has strict restrictions imposed in its southwestern city of Baise to fight rising local infections of Covid-19. Residents have been asked to stay at home and avoid unnecessary travel.
Baise has a population of about 3.6 million and borders Vietnam. Chinese authorities have enforced strict guidelines to quickly contain any flare-ups.
(With inputs from AP, Reuters)
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